vvt engine in first gen protege help

[joes94bp]

Is there anyone on here that has put a newer engine with vvt in an obd1 car? I found a really good deal on a bp z3(I think) out of a 02 mx5. It comes with all sensors and at least partial harness. Anyone have experience and know the best way to deal with ecu and wiring?

[KAinjection]

I am doing something similar to you but with an engine from a Mazda 3. I am using the 3 harness and ECU though.

For a Miata setup, there is the highly supported Megasquirt option or this:

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/vvtuner-valve-timing-control-unit-assembled-p-459.html

[joes94bp]

Does the older distributor fit on the vvt head? The blocks are supposed to be similar, so could I just use everything off my 94 parts car nd just use the vvt tuner? I'm also planning on making the vics manifold olff my Kia parts car fit.

[KAinjection]

The distributor and intake manifold are not a direct fit.

Check here:

http://ferdster.com/94ProLX/misc/index.html

[joes94bp]

Thanks for the help! I wonder if I could just use a cam gear off a bp 4w and just not use the vvt. I'm goo to get on a miata forum and see what I can find. I'm sure there is a lot of people swapping the vvt engine into an old miata.

[KAinjection]

I would leave the VVT alone. Its a good thing for a street car.

[joes94bp]

Can I run it without a controller? Will it just be on the low end setting, and hurt the top end hp?

[jay]

You'll want to be abe to control it, that's sorta the whole point of it. Stock controller or standalone, whatever works. Next up, just to go with vvt, converting stock bp head to direct injection. Oh how I wish... man we'd bust gearboxes in a heartbeat.

[KAinjection]

Do a google search for specifics but I believe your losing low/midrange by disabling it. Also the head and cam are VVT specific so you cant just swap cams to disable it.

[joes94bp]

Well I'm picking it up today! 2002 bp z3 with vvt. 70,000 miles. I'm going to run it with vvt UN plugged for a bit. I will post how it runs with no vvt and I was thinkin about messing with the cam timing to get more low end power.

[joes94bp]

Well here it is. If s anyone wants information on thees engines let me know and I can take pictures. I will begin takin it apart tomorrow and swapping everything off my 94 pc and trans off my 97 Kia pc.

[mazdaman323]

Very interested in this mod. keep the updates coming!

[joes94bp]

Had some free time today so I started taking off exhaust an intake manifold, ac pump, ps pump.

Took off the valve cover to see how it looked inside, have to say it looks good! When I got it the guy said it had under 70,000. I was worried about it sitting for (who knows how long). But it turns over easy and look like low miles. I've never worked on a used engine that wasn't at least a little stained.

[joes94bp]

Here is a pic of the mx5 gasget on the 94 pro intake so you can see the modifications that need to be done, the pattern s exactly the same just higher ports so the holes need moved down.


In the other pic is the 94 pro distributor in the mx5 head. Thank you mazda for being lazy lol. The head is missing the outer hole for the distributor. But I'm thinking it will be fine with one.

[joes94bp]

Got the lower intake cut and new holes drilled to move it up. Not sure what I'm goin to do about the bottom bolts tho. Not sure if I wanna cut off the bottom and weld on a piece of aluminum like the other ones I've seen on here.

I also spliced the harness together for the injectors and vics and the other solenoid.

One thing to note for anyone doin this swap, the purple injectors are to tall for the fuel rail off the older bp. And the fuel rail that comes on the bp z3 has fuel inlet on front of engine and there is no return line. Not sure how it works on the mx5. I'm just goin to make a custom piece off the rail with a hose barb and just use a adjustable pressure regulator for tunning.